Art, music, and nature

Todd Sanctuary Hike

Friends, Larry and Ruthann, as well as, Laurie and I visited the Todd Sanctuary near Sarver, Pennsylvania. These lands are controlled and maintained by the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania. The 176 acres was originally donated by W.E. Clyde Todd in 1942.

The woodlands consists of varied habitats. One will walk through high canopy big timber at times and later walk into an abandoned field in the early stage of successional growth. Other sites demonstrate an abandoned field of many years with younger tree growth. A northern slope is dominantly hemlock.

The pond

A nice feature for me is a vernal-style pond with lots of duckweed on the surface. Hundreds of frogs are throughout this pond. A rather large water snake came to the bank as we watched. Dragonflies flutter everywhere! the sounds of the bullfrog permeate the quiet, peaceful area.

The site includes many marked trails. The longest trail is 2 miles in length. All others vary. I enjoy the Polypody Trail with big rocks covered with boulder ferns. the Ravine Trail follows a rock-based stream that meanders among steep and rocky sides.

Laurie was chosen trail leader which proved interesting at times but we all made it out alive. Laurie doesn’t care for spider webs stretched across the trails!